Dahlia plant named ‘Dahlgr50’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Dahlgr50’, characterized by its relatively compact, mounding and dense plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark brown-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; single-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with bright red-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DAHLGR50’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dahlgr50’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container and garden Dahlia plants with dark-colored leaves, large single-type inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination during the summer of 2012 of a proprietary seedling selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number C 100, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands during the summer of 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings since February, 2014 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dahlgr50’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dahlgr50’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, mounding and dense plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark brown-colored leaves.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type inflorescence form.     -   6. Large inflorescences with bright red-colored ray florets.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia are suitable as container and garden         plants whereas plants of the female parent selection are         suitable as garden plants.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida ‘HDSC18’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,962. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘HDSC18’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are taller and broader than plants         of ‘HDSC18’.     -   2. Leaves and leaflets of plants of the new Dahlia are more         incised than leaves and leaflets of plants of ‘HDSC18’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia start flowering about five days         later than plants of ‘HDSC18’.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘HDSC18’.

Plants of the new Dahlia can also be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida ‘HS Romeo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,961. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘HS Romeo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are shorter and narrower than plants         of ‘HS Romeo’.     -   2. Leaves and leaflets of plants of the new Dahlia are more         incised than leaves and leaflets of plants of ‘HS Romeo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia start flowering about five days         earlier than plants of ‘HS Romeo’.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘HS Romeo’.     -   5. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HS Romeo’ differ in ray floret         color as plants of ‘HS Romeo’ have dark red purple-colored ray         florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dahlgr50’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Dahlgr50’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinched one time about two to three weeks after planting. Plants were three months old when the photographs were taken and four months old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘Dahlgr50’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Dahlia hybrida identified as code number C 100, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at soil             temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures ranging from             about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 to 14 days at soil             temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures ranging from             about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days             at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures             ranging from about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days             at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures             ranging from about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.         -   Tubers.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 15 cm. Texture:             Corky. Color: Typically white to brown in color, actual             color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,             water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact and mounding             plant habit; suitable as container and garden plants;             inverted triangular plant form; freely basal branching with             about six primary lateral branches developing per plant each             with about four secondary lateral branches; dense and bushy             appearance; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 55             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 55             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 3 cm to 12 cm. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to             outwardly. Color: Close to 146A; distally tinged with close             to 200A; at the internodes, slightly tinged with close to             137B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple or compound with three or five             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length, simple leaves.—About 7 cm.         -   Leaf width, simple leaves.—About 8.4 cm.         -   Leaf length, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 13             cm.         -   Leaf width, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 2.9             cm.         -   Leaf length, compound leaves with five leaflets.—About 18             cm.         -   Leaf width, compound leaves with five leaflets.—About 2.9             cm.         -   Shape, simple leaves or leaflets.—Ovate.         -   Apex, simple leaves or leaflets.—Acuminate.         -   Base, simple leaves or leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, simple leaves or leaflets.—Serrate; sinuses medium             in depth and divergent.         -   Venation pattern, simple leaves or leaflets.—Pinnate,             reticulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, simple leaves or             leaflets.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, simple leaves or             leaflets.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves or leaflets, upper surface:             Somewhat darker than 200A. Developing leaves or leaflets,             lower surface: Close to 191A. Fully expanded leaves or             leaflets, upper surface: Somewhat darker than 200A;             venation, close to 187B. Fully expanded leaves or leaflets,             lower surface: Close to 191B; venation, close to 187A.         -   Petioles.—Length, simple leaves or leaflets: About 1.8 cm.             Diameter, simple leaves or leaflets: About 1.2 mm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces, simple leaves or leaflets: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color, simple leaves or leaflets, upper             surface: Close to 146A tinged with close to 200B. Color,             simple leaves or leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Single-type inflorescences             with ray and disc florets developing acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with typically             more than 50 inflorescences developing per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; plants begin             flowering about 65 days after planting; flowering continuous             during the late summer and autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             inflorescences maintain good substance for about twelve days             on the plant and for about four days as a cut flower;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Oblate to close to globular. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 187B.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Large, about 9.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 1.7 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—About 7 mm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Receptacle color.—Close to 144B tinged slightly with close             to 187A.         -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About             eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.8 cm.             Width: About 2.6 cm. Shape: Ovate, flat. Apex: Obtuse or             occasionally mucronulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Aspect: Initially upright to roughly perpendicular to the             peduncle. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; shiny to velvety. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 46A; at the base, slightly lighter than             46A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 46A. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 46A; venation,             close to 46A; color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 85 arranged in about 17 whorls. Length: About 7 mm.             Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex dentate,             pentafid. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening, inner             surface: Close to 200A. When opening, outer surface: Close             to 21A. Fully opened, inner surface: Close to 23A; venation,             close to 23A. Fully opened, outer surface: Close to 21A;             venation, close to 177B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 200A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 12 cm. Diameter,             terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third peduncle: About             13 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About 3 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect to 40° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to             200A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About             4 mm. Filament color: Close to 3A. Anther size: About 4 mm             by 0.7 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to             16A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 20A.             Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity per             floret: One. Stigma diameter: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:             Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 12B. Style length: About             5.4 mm. Style color: Close to 150B. Ovary color: Close to             175A. Seeds: Seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Dahlia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia plants     to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dahlgr50’ as illustrated and described. 